Best Vietnamese

It’s a high honor to take home the gold in this category, since Burque is blessed with a bevy of great Vietnamese joints. Order a bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich), a bowl of pho or an avocado milkshake, and you’ll understand why Café Trang beat out the rest.

Best Fusion

This new kid on the block has the best empanadas around. And they’re not your mama’s empanadas. But they’re warm, sweet, spicy and sticky. Order anything— you’ll like it (especially if it has fried plantains).

Best Chinese

For more than 30 years, Albuquerque has loved Chen’s, especially the lunch specials. From the ’70s decor to the traditional menu, Alibi readers voted to keep their Chinese food decidedly old-school this year.

Best Indian

Readers are attracted to Taj Mahal for the great prices, but it’s the no naan-sense food that keeps them coming back. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike appreciate the variety of authentic Indian selections on Taj’s lunch buffet.

Best Korean

Korean BBQ House

From beef ribs to spicy squid bulgogi, when you want Korean food, you want barbecue. Luckily, the Korean BBQ House has been serving up its grilled and marinated specialties for more than six years in its Nob Hill location, and you are hooked.

Best Japanese

Japanese Kitchen Steakhouse

Dinner and a show? At the Japanese Kitchen, that’s just what you get as expert chefs cook dinner right at your table with plenty of live flame. Specialties include teriyaki chicken and teppan shrimp. Or if you feel like putting your dinner completely in the hands of the professionals, order the omakase and let the chef decide the entirety of your meal.

Best Mexican

Los Equipales

Land-locked Burqueños celebrate Los Equipales for serving up delicious fare from the coasts of Mexico, as well as central Mexican flavors like pollo en mole. If you haven't been seduced by this sublime food already, get over there, order a fish taco, and soon you’ll swear you hear the surf on Silver Avenue.

2) Mariscos La Playa

3) El Norteño

Best Southern Food

We would crawl through a briar patch for the sweet southern ecstasy of Powdrell’s hickory smoked meats slapped with a side of collard greens and cornbread. Good thing there’s no briar patch between here and either of its locations.

Most Wanted Ethnic Cuisine

Ethiopian

There is a gaping injera shaped hole in Albuquerque’s culinary heart. We checked if Albuquerque has any sister cities in Ethiopia we could visit in order to convince a chef to move here. Alas, no. You’re going to have to drive to Denver to get your fix.